Are sailors in picture Polish

[ChrisW01]

Like the subject line says, are these sailors Polish? I recently received this picture of my aunt that I believe was taken during her arrival in France from Palestine March 8, 1948. From the hills in the background the port might be Toulon. At first I thought the sailors were French because the man on right's cap looked like it had pompom and anchor emblem. I'm thinking it might be a Polish eagle.

Opinions please.
Chris......

[cichociemny]

Hi Chris

These are Polish sailors. However looking at the uniforms and in particular the caps they look more like pre-war ones. The Communist Polish Navy had more floppy caps. Are you sure this photo is post- war?

Nick

[ChrisW01]

Thanks Nick. Yes I believe the picture is post war as described in my post. Though all ships of the Polish Navy had been turned over to Communist governed Poland postwar at least one former Polish merchantman was purchased by Britain. Was formally SS Czar, was renamed Pułaski then Empire Penryn in 1946. It did trooping and evacuation duties in the Mediterranean and had Polish crewmen. This picture may have been taken on that ship. I'm waiting for evacuation records of aunt from the Sikorsky Museum which might shed some light.

Chris......

[Gunny Hartmann]

Hi Chris

These are Polish sailors. However looking at the uniforms and in particular the caps they look more like pre-war ones. The Communist Polish Navy had more floppy caps. Are you sure this photo is post- war?

Nick

From the style of the hat being worn by the woman i'd be inclined to say 1920s/1930s!..